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Franchising often runs in the family — not just in terms of ownership, but in regards to values, work ethic and the important lessons passed from one generation to the next. For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-little-46204923/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=zaxbys-family-franchise-wellness-growth-2730882" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Little</a>, the experience gained working alongside his father in their family’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zaxbys.com/franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=zaxbys-family-franchise-wellness-growth-2730882" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zaxby’s</a> restaurants has had a profound impact as he’s made an entrepreneurial pivot.&nbsp;“With Zaxby’s, it’s a family business. My dad is still one of my partners,” Little said. “But I wanted something with low employee headcount, relatively easy buildout, simple operations, preferably recurring revenue and something that added to the net health and wellness of society.”Now 40, Little is applying the lessons learned from family franchising in the fast-casual restaurant realm to a wholly different venture:&nbsp;<a href="https://sweathouz.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=zaxbys-family-franchise-wellness-growth-2730882" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SweatHouz</a>, a wellness-focused franchise specializing in contrast therapy, infrared saunas and cold plunge experiences delivered in a private setting.In any franchising situation, mentorship can be a valuable asset. In the family setting, it’s often built right into the ownership experience. For Little, the experience equips him with the strong entrepreneurial backbone necessary not only to make the transition to health and wellness but establish enduring success.<h2>Making the Pivot</h2>Little and his father are partnering with&nbsp;<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/richard-gower-144592a1?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=zaxbys-family-franchise-wellness-growth-2730882" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Richard Gower</a> in the new&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sweathouz/info">SWTHZ</a> venture. Drawing upon their shared franchising background of operating 14 Zaxby’s restaurants allows Little and Gower to play to their strengths as they enter the new venture.“Richard worked for the corporate office at&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchise-deep-dive-zaxbys-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-2723772">Zaxby's</a> and my dad recruited him to join our group. That's how we're all connected. But SWTHZ checked all those boxes,” Little said. “The appeal of franchising is that if the franchisor is doing their job correctly, you can pick the battles you want to fight and focus on your strengths. We’re strong in operations, people development, site selection and construction. And if the franchisor is doing its job, we don’t have to worry about marketing and other areas that we're not necessarily experts in. So far, so good.”<h2>Growth and Ambition</h2>With two SWTHZ territories open and another under construction, the trio has struck licence agreements for an additional seven locations.“Scaling to multiple units requires organization, delegation and recruiting future talent for our internal teams. It's hard to look past a year from now - but we hope to do more after that. Our first location recently celebrated its one-year anniversary,” Little said. “It's really hard work but gratifying.”While health and wellness may be new entrepreneurial territory, Little is clear on the lessons he takes into the new SWTHZ venture.“If you're getting into it to be an absentee owner, you're in for a rude awakening. No matter the brand, it requires active involvement. Eventually, at a certain scale, it becomes about providing opportunities for your people and teams. That's what Richard and I aim to do with SWTHZ,” Little said. “Many members come just for mental health. And some use it as a weekly reset with a partner. It's an hour for themselves, disconnected from the world. At Discovery Day, I had never done an infrared sauna or cold plunge, so I was skeptical. But, after my first contrast therapy session, I distinctly remember how my body and mental state felt afterward. It made me a believer.”For more info on families in franchising, check out these related stories on 1851 Franchise:<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/five-ways-your-father-affected-your-career-in-franchising-4775">Five Ways Your Father Affected Your Career in Franchising</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/choosing-the-right-franchise-for-your-family-2727865">How to Choose the Right Franchise for Your Family</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/family-franchising-winning-combination-2727664#stories">Family and Franchising Make for a Winning Combination</a></li></ul>

sweathouz franchise, families in franchising

Family Franchise Lessons Inspire Ben Little’s Growth with SweatHouz

1851 Franchise

Ben Little draws on lessons learned franchising with his father to grow new SweatHouz venture, blending operational expertise with a focus on health and community impact.

Lessons Learned In Family Zaxby’s Operation Fuels New Wellness Franchise

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Woodhouse Spas

Photo of guest checking in at Woodhouse Spas reception desk

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Sola Salons

Design with Karl Baumert headshot and photo of Sola Salons space

Why a Wall Street Pro Chose Sola Salons Over Traditional Investments

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Mellow Mushroom

How Mellow Mushroom’s Model Made it the Perfect Addition to Brad Harper’s Restaurant Portfolio

How Mellow Mushroom’s Flexible Model Made it the Perfect Addition to Brad Harper’s Growing Restaurant Portfolio

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Dillas Quesadillas

Dillas Quesadillas Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

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Paris Baguette

image of paris baguette Love Baked In Culture & Community Impact No Kid Hungry and City Harvest

How Paris Baguette’s ‘Love Baked In’ Culture Nourishes Communities

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